Every year in April, Wilmington, North Carolina hosts a huge southern-style festival in honor of the azalea, which blooms profusely around here.

The festival includes “Belles” who are costumed in authentic Civil War Era dresses, complete with pantaloons and parasols. These young women, who are nominated by The Cape Fear Garden Club, serve as hostesses and guides for The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour. They also participate in many activities of the North Carolina Azalea Festival. They are stationed all around town in the beautiful gardens of our city.

In 1969, seven high school aged girls dawned the antebellum dresses for the first time. This year there were nearly 130 beautiful belles at the festival.